How does your pre-K program stack up?

You knew it was coming: They can't make four-year-olds take the FCAT, but the state has found a way to hold pre-kindergarten providers accountable.

The readiness ratings -- based on a scale approved earlier this week by the Board of Education -- can help parents choose schools. It's based on an evaluation of what every kindergarten student knew when they arrived at school. Check out the school-by-school results at the state's voluntary pre-K site.

There's also a list of low performers, the so-called bottom 15 percent. They're required to submit improvement plans. Of course, some have complained that the ratings aren't fair. You could argue that's just one more lesson to prepare kids for the real world.

About the blog

Gradebook features education articles and insights on schools in Florida, focusing on Tampa Bay area schools. What's the latest from the Florida Department of Education? How is the FCAT being used to compare Florida schools? What's going on in Tampa Bay schools? Get an insider's view from the Times education reporting team.